slightest doubt. But why did he not come by
day that she might see him?

Two weeks passed and nothing more happened. Most of the houses were
almost completed. The Colonel had his finished first, and it was a
proud day when he gave the order to move their few belongings from the
tent. This was soon done, and Jean and Mammy spent the whole of the
afternoon fitting up their new abode. The day was unusually hot, and
at times they were forced to seek shelter beneath the shade of some
friendly trees. Night brought but little respite, and even Old Mammy
complained of the heat.

"Dis is de first time I'se been wa'm since comin' to dis place," she
announced. "It reminds me of my ol' home in de Souf, it sa'tinly does."

At length a vivid flash of lightning streaked the air, followed
immediately by a roll of thunder off to the west.

"It's just what I've been expecting" the Colonel remarked, as he walked
over to the door and looked out. "Such heat as we've had to-day is
generally followed by a thunder storm. It is coming this way fast.
Listen to that."

The storm was rolling up rapidly over the hills, while the play of the
lightning was grand and terrible. And mingled with the roar of thunder
was the sound of the hurrying feet of the rain driven before the
onrushing wind. Suddenly a blinding flash illumined water and land,
followed instantly by a crash that shook the cabin. Old Mammy gave a
shriek of fear, and caught Jean in her arms.

"Oh, oh, oh!" she moaned. "Dis is turrible! We'll all be killed!
We'll all be killed!"

"Hush, hush, Mammy," Jean ordered. "Don't get so excited. This storm
will soon be over, will it not, daddy?"

"Most likely," the Colonel replied. "But come here, dear, I want you
to see this wonderful electric display upon the water."

Freeing herself from the colored woman's embrace, the girl rose,
crossed the room, and stood by her father's side. As she turned her
eyes upon the river, she gave a gasp of astonishment. Between the
shore and the Isle of Vines the lightning was holding high carnival.
For an instant there was intense darkness, followed by a succession of
brilliant, flickering illuminations, bewildering to the senses.
Several times she was forced to turn away her head, but only for a
second, as she was compelled by some strange fascination to look upon
the wonderful spectacle. Flash upon flash, racing gleam upon gleam,
Stygian darkness and crashing thunder intermingled